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APD adopts new lapel cam guidelines

The Albuquerque Police Department rolled out a new policy regarding lapel camera use at the end of March, ending years of controversy over a policy the U.S. Department of Justice at one time deemed "confusing."

The Albuquerque Police Department rolled out a new policy regarding lapel camera use at the end of March, ending years of controversy over a policy the U.S. Department of Justice at one time deemed "confusing."

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Updated: 8:06 AM MDT Apr 7, 2016

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WEBVTT HAT'S DIFFERENT AND WHY THE CHANGES ARE GOOD FOR YOU KIRSTEN: EVERY UNIFORMED ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICER WEARS ONE. A LAPEL CAMERA. FOR 3 YEARS THE DEPARTMENT MANDATED EVERY OFFICER HAD TO RECORD EACH AND EVERY CONTACT WITH A CITIZEN. A POLICY THAT'S COME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY AND EVEN GOTTEN OFFICERS FIRED. BUT NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED. >> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. KIRSTEN: IN A BIG WAY WITH A BRAND NEW SET OF RULES. THIS IS THE OLD POLICY JUST THREE PAGES LONG. THE NEW ONE IS 8 WITH MORE SPECIFICS FOR OFFICERS ON WHEN THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE RECORDING DURING A SHIFT. >> THE EXPECTATIONS IN THE OLD POLICY WERE UNREALISTIC. KIRSTEN: UNION PRESIDENT SHAUN WILLOUGHBY SAYS THE NEW GUIDELINES ARE A BIT LOOSER WHEN IT COMES TO CRITICAL SITUATIONS. THE NEW POLICY STATES OFFICERS SHOULD START RECORDING THE BEGINNING OF THE INCIDENT. BUT IF IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO SO THE OFFICER SHOULD TURN THE CAMERA ON AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY, WHEN THE IMMEDIATE THREAT HAS DISSIPATED. >> ONE THING WE DON'T WANT POLICE OFFICERS TO DO IS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CAMERA. KIRSTEN: WILLOUGHBY SAYS OTHER POLICY CHANGES ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOU BY LISTING SPECIFIC SITUATIONS WHERE OFFICERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECORD. PLACES WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT PRIVACY LIKE A HOSPITAL OR A LOCKER ROOM. THIS NEW POLICY IS ONLY IN EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER WHEN APD WILL SEE HOW THINGS ARE WORKING OUT AND COULD MAKE MORE CHANGES. IN ALBUQUERQUE, KIRSTEN SWANSON, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. SHELLY: YOU CAN READ THE ENTIRE POLICY FOR YOURSELF. WE'VE POSTED IT ON KOAT.COM AND

APD adopts new lapel cam guidelines

The Albuquerque Police Department rolled out a new policy regarding lapel camera use at the end of March, ending years of controversy over a policy the U.S. Department of Justice at one time deemed "confusing."